Illegal Use of Dogs While Hunting in Ontario:

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Last Updated: September 13 2026

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Question: What should I do after getting a hunting ticket for Illegal Use of Dogs while hunting in Ontario?

Answer: DefendCharges.ca™ can help you understand the exact illegal use of dogs wording on your Ontario hunting ticket or summons, whether the dog needed a Hunting Dog Licence for the specific wildlife, season, and WMU, and what evidence matters before you respond to the court deadline.   Don’t pay immediately without confirming the offence requirements match what happened, then preserve licence records, GPS or dog tracking data, photos or videos, and Conservation Officer notes.   If you need urgent next steps or a case review by an Ontario paralegal, call (647) 559-3377 to discuss your charge and possible defences.

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Illegal Use of Dogs While Hunting in Ontario

Received a hunting ticket or summons for Illegal Use of Dogs While Hunting in Ontario?  You have been charged with a provincial offence under Ontario hunting law.  The charge may concern hunting with a dog that did not have the required Hunting Dog Licence, using or being accompanied by a dog during a hunt where dogs were prohibited, hunting elk with a dog, permitting a dog to run at large, unlawfully using a dog to chase wildlife during a closed season, or another violation of Ontario's hunting dog rules.

Note: Please contact DefendCharges.ca™ by phone at: (647) 559-3377 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.

Do not panic.  The fact that a dog was with you while hunting does not automatically mean the dog was being used illegally.  Ontario permits dogs to be used for some hunting, but the rules can depend on what you were hunting, whether the dog had the required Hunting Dog Licence, the Wildlife Management Unit, the season, what the dog was doing, who was responsible for the dog, and whether the dog was being used only to track an animal that had already been wounded.

This page explains the questions that may matter after you have been charged, including whether your dog needed a Hunting Dog Licence, whether dogs were permitted during your hunt, whether the dog needed hunter orange, the special rules for deer and other wildlife, wounded big game tracking, dogs running at large, closed season dog charges, what must be proven, current set fines, evidence, possible defences and legal issues, and what may happen next.  This offence is part of Hunting Method & Firearm Charges.

I Received a Hunting Dog Ticket or Summons.  What Should I Do?

A summons is a court document requiring you to attend court or respond as directed.  Read every document carefully and do not miss the response deadline or required court date.

Start with the exact offence wording and section number on your ticket or summons.  There is no single Ontario offence that covers every possible illegal use of a hunting dog.  Different dog related charges have different requirements, so the exact wording on your documents matters.

Record what you were hunting, the date and time, the exact location, the Wildlife Management Unit, the season, what hunting equipment you were using, whether the dog had a valid Hunting Dog Licence, what the dog was doing, who owned or controlled the dog, whether the dog was leashed, whether wildlife had already been wounded, and what the Conservation Officer said or observed.

Keep the Hunting Dog Licence, hunting documents, maps, GPS or electronic dog tracking data, photographs, videos, messages, and witness information connected with the charge.  Do not delete, reset, overwrite, or alter tracking information or other evidence that may show where the dog travelled or what happened during the hunt.

Should I Pay the Ticket?

Paying the ticket will generally be treated as pleading guilty and will result in a conviction, meaning a finding of guilt.  Before paying, identify exactly which dog related hunting offence appears on your ticket and whether the evidence actually proves the requirements of that offence.

A charge for hunting big game with an unlicensed dog is different from hunting in an area where dogs are prohibited, hunting elk with a dog, permitting a dog to run at large, or unlawfully using dogs to chase wildlife during a closed season.  The set fine and the legal issues can also be different.

What Is an Illegal Use of Dogs While Hunting Charge?

An Illegal Use of Dogs While Hunting charge concerns using, being accompanied by, controlling, or being responsible for a dog in hunting circumstances that Ontario law does not permit.  Ontario does not prohibit hunting with dogs altogether.

Depending on the charge, the issue may be that the dog did not have the required Hunting Dog Licence, dogs were prohibited for the wildlife, season or location being hunted, the dog was being used for elk hunting, the dog was permitted to run at large, or the dog was being used to chase wildlife during a closed season contrary to Ontario's rules.

The dog does not necessarily have to chase, catch, bite, injure, or kill wildlife before an offence can occur.  Ontario's big game rules can apply when a person uses or is accompanied by a dog while hunting in circumstances where the dog is not legally permitted.  The evidence must still connect the dog to your hunting activity and establish the requirements of the particular charge.

The exact charge therefore has to be matched to the dog, wildlife, location, season, and activity involved.  Other firearm, equipment, and hunting method offences are organized within Hunting Method & Firearm Charges.

What Is a Hunting Dog Licence?

A Hunting Dog Licence is a separate Ontario hunting licence issued in respect of the dog being used for hunting.  It is not the hunter's own Deer Licence, Moose Licence, Bear Licence, Small Game Licence, or Outdoors Card.

Ontario requires dogs used to hunt deer, moose or black bear to be licensed for hunting where dogs are legally permitted.  A licensed dog is also required for certain raccoon hunting or chasing activities.

The important distinction is that the licence requirement applies to the dog.  The hunter must separately have whatever licence, tag, Outdoors Card, or other hunting authority is required for the wildlife being hunted.

A valid Hunting Dog Licence does not mean the dog can legally be used for every hunt.  Dogs remain prohibited for ordinary elk hunting and during certain deer and moose hunts even when the dog is licensed.

A separate exception can apply where a dog is used only to search for a bear, elk, deer or moose that has already been wounded during the hunt and all of Ontario's wounded-animal tracking requirements are followed.

Does My Hunting Dog Have to Wear Hunter Orange?

No.  Ontario's hunter orange rules do not require a hunting dog to wear hunter orange, an orange vest, orange collar, or other special clothing to show that it is a hunting dog.  The hunter orange requirements apply to people hunting in the circumstances covered by those rules, not to the dog.

A hunter may choose high visibility clothing or a collar for the dog as a safety measure, but it is not the legal identification for a Hunting Dog Licence.  Whether the dog was licensed is established through the applicable licensing records.

Can Dogs Be Used to Hunt Deer?

Yes, dogs may be used for some deer hunting in Ontario, but they are prohibited during certain deer seasons and in certain Wildlife Management Units.  Where dogs are permitted, the dog must also have the required Hunting Dog Licence.

A Wildlife Management Unit, commonly called a WMU, is a numbered geographic area Ontario uses to establish hunting seasons and hunting rules.  The WMU where you were hunting can therefore determine whether dogs were permitted.

Ontario also identifies deer seasons by a class of firearm.  This is Ontario's legal shorthand for which hunting equipment may be used during that particular deer season.  It is not a firearms licence classification.

If your charge involves deer hunting, the relevant restrictions mean:

• Class 1 means bow only.  Dogs cannot be used to hunt deer in any WMU during a Class 1 deer season.
• Class 2 means bow or muzzle-loading gun.  Dogs cannot be used during a Class 2 deer season except in WMUs 7A, 18B and 59.
• Class 3 means bow, shotgun or muzzle-loading gun.  Dogs cannot be used during a Class 3 deer season except in WMUs 64B, 68B, 69B and 74A.
• Class 5 means muzzle-loading gun only.  Dogs cannot be used to hunt deer in any WMU during a Class 5 deer season.
• Class 6 means shotgun or muzzle-loading gun.  Dogs cannot be used to hunt deer in any WMU during a Class 6 deer season.
• Class 7 means bow, rifle, shotgun or muzzle-loading gun.  During a Class 7 deer season, dogs cannot be used in WMUs 5, 8, 10, 43A, 43B, 44, 45, 76A, 82A, 82B, 83A and 84.

A muzzle-loading gun is a firearm loaded through the muzzle, meaning the open end of the barrel.

If you were charged while hunting deer with a dog, the practical questions are: What WMU were you in?  What deer season was open?  What hunting equipment class applied?  Were dogs prohibited for that hunt?  Did the dog have the required Hunting Dog Licence?

What If My Charge Involves Moose, Elk, Black Bear or Raccoon?

The rule can change depending on what you were hunting.  If your ticket or summons involves moose, elk, black bear, or raccoon, the particular species, location, and activity should be checked against the applicable dog rules.

• Moose: Dogs may be used where Ontario permits them and the dog has the required Hunting Dog Licence, but dogs cannot be used or accompany a person hunting moose in WMU 65.
• Elk: Ontario prohibits ordinary hunting of elk with a dog.  A Hunting Dog Licence does not make ordinary elk hunting with a dog lawful.
• Black bear: Dogs may be used to hunt black bear where otherwise lawful, but the dog generally requires a Hunting Dog Licence.
• Raccoon: Ontario has specific licensed-dog requirements for certain raccoon hunting and chasing activities.  If your charge concerns an unlicensed dog, the licence records and exact activity may be important.

If one of these species is identified on your ticket or summons, the case should be focused on the particular dog rule involved rather than assuming that every hunting-dog restriction applies.

What If the Dog Was Tracking an Animal That Had Already Been Wounded?

Ontario has a specific exception allowing a dog to be used to search for a bear, elk, deer or moose that has already been wounded during the hunt.  This is different from using a dog to find or pursue unwounded big game.

The dog does not need a Hunting Dog Licence for this limited tracking activity if:

• The dog is being used only to search for a bear, elk, deer or moose that has already been wounded during the hunt;
• The dog is kept on a leash no longer than 10 metres; and
• The dog remains under the physical control of the person handling it at all times.

A person may also handle the tracking dog without their own hunting licence or carrying an Outdoors Card if the tracking requirements are followed, the handler does not possess a firearm, and the handler accompanies the licensed hunter who wounded the animal.  Ontario's applicable hunter orange requirements also apply to that qualifying handler as though the person were a licensed hunter.

If you were charged while recovering wounded big game, evidence showing when the animal was wounded, when the dog began tracking, whether the dog was leashed, the leash length, who controlled the dog, and whether the handler possessed a firearm may be important.

What If the Dog Ran Into an Area Where Dogs Were Prohibited?

Ontario has separate offences involving a dog being permitted to run at large.  A charge can arise if the owner or another person responsible for the dog permits it to run at large during an open big game season in an area where dogs are prohibited for hunting that species.

There is also a separate rule concerning permitting a dog to run at large during the closed season for a species of big game in an area usually inhabited by that species.

If this is the charge you received, important questions can include who was responsible for the dog, what control was being exercised, where the dog travelled, what season was open or closed, and what steps were being taken to control or recover it.  GPS dog tracking data, maps, property or WMU boundaries, and other location evidence may be particularly important.

What If My Charge Says I Used Dogs to Chase Wildlife During a Closed Season?

Ontario has a separate offence involving unlawful use of dogs to chase wildlife during a closed season.  A closed season is a period when hunting the particular wildlife is not legally open.

The law restricts using dogs to chase game mammals or game birds during a closed season for the purpose of teaching or testing the dogs' hunting skills unless the activity is legally authorized.

Ontario also permits certain limited chasing or searching activities involving raccoon, red fox, coyote and wolf outside their open seasons when the applicable requirements are followed.  If your charge involves closed season chasing, the wildlife, time of day, location, licence, dog, firearm possession, and whether wildlife was killed or captured may matter.

What Law Applies?

The main Ontario provisions governing these charges are sections 25 and 26 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 and section 86 and related provisions of Ontario Regulation 665/98, the Hunting Regulation.  These provisions address licensed hunting dogs, areas or hunts where dogs are prohibited, dogs running at large, closed season chasing, elk, deer and moose restrictions, and wounded big game tracking.

The exact section stated on your ticket or summons matters because different hunting-dog offences require different facts to be proven.

What Must Be Proven?

The prosecutor, meaning the lawyer or representative presenting the government's case, must prove the required parts of the specific charge beyond a reasonable doubt.  Beyond a reasonable doubt is the high legal standard that must be met before the court can find you guilty.

What must be proven depends on the offence stated on your ticket or summons.

Hunting Big Game With an Unlicensed Dog

The prosecutor may need to establish that you were hunting big game, that you used or were accompanied by the dog, that a Hunting Dog Licence was required, and that the required licence had not been issued in respect of that dog.

Hunting With a Dog Where Dogs Were Prohibited

The prosecutor may need to establish the wildlife being hunted, the date, season and location, and that the applicable Ontario rules prohibited using or being accompanied by a dog during that hunt.

Hunting Elk With a Dog

The prosecutor may need to establish that you were hunting elk and used or were accompanied by a dog.  If the dog was being used only to track an elk that had already been wounded, the wounded-animal tracking exception may become important.

Permitting a Dog to Run at Large

The prosecutor may need to establish that you owned or were responsible for the dog, that you permitted it to run at large, and that the applicable open-season or closed-season restriction existed.

Closed Season Chasing

The prosecutor may need to establish that a dog was used to chase game mammals or game birds during the closed season in circumstances prohibited by the Act.

If your defence depends on a specific legal exception or exemption, Ontario's Provincial Offences Act generally places the burden of proving that the exception or exemption operates in your favour on you.

What Are the Set Fines?

There is no single set fine for every Illegal Use of Dogs While Hunting charge.  The set fine depends on the exact offence stated on your ticket.

Current Ontario set fines include:

• $100 for Hunt big game with unlicensed dog under subsection 25(1) of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997;
• $100 for Hunt big game with dog in prescribed area under subsection 25(2);
• $100 for Permit dog to be at large in prescribed area during open season under clause 25(3)(a);
• $150 for Permit dog to be at large during closed season under clause 25(3)(b);
• $150 for Unlawfully use dogs to chase wildlife during closed season under section 26;
• $200 for Hunt elk with dog under subsection 86(2) of Ontario Regulation 665/98;
• $150 for Chase raccoon without licensed dog as required under subsection 89(4);
• $150 for Use or carry firearm during a chase during closed season under clause 89(3)(a);
• $200 for Kill wildlife during a chase during closed season under clause 89(3)(b); and
• $250 for Capture wildlife during a chase during closed season under clause 89(3)(b).

A set fine is the preset fine used when the offence is dealt with by ticket.  The total amount payable can also include the applicable victim fine surcharge and court costs.

The set fine is different from the maximum penalty available under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997.  The general maximum for an individual convicted of an offence under the Act is a fine of up to $25,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.  Those are maximum penalties established by law and are not the automatic or usual result of an ordinary hunting dog ticket.

Can This Charge Affect My Hunting Licence or Hunting Privileges?

A hunting licence cancellation or prohibition is not automatic simply because you have been charged with an Illegal Use of Dogs While Hunting offence.  Being charged does not mean you have been convicted.

After conviction, Ontario law can permit the court to make certain orders affecting a licence or authorization related to the offence.  Whether such an order is available or appropriate depends on the specific offence and circumstances.

What Evidence May Be Used?

These charges can depend heavily on dog licensing, location, tracking information, the applicable hunting season, and what the dog was actually doing.  Relevant evidence may include:

• The Hunting Dog Licence and licensing records for the particular dog;
• Your Outdoors Card, Licence Summary, species licence, tag, or other relevant hunting documents;
• The dog's identity and information about who owned, handled, or controlled it;
• GPS, electronic dog tracking data, handheld tracking devices, phone applications, maps, and location records;
• WMU, property, and other relevant boundaries;
• The applicable hunting season and deer firearm class where relevant;
• Photographs, videos, Conservation Officer observations, notes, and available recordings;
• Evidence concerning the wildlife being hunted and what the dog was doing;
• Evidence showing whether wildlife had already been wounded and the leash used during tracking;
• Witness statements and communications between hunters;
• Statements attributed to you or other people involved; and
• Any seized equipment or electronic evidence relevant to the investigation.

Disclosure is the relevant information and evidence in the prosecutor's possession or control that you are entitled to receive, subject to the law.  Disclosure should be obtained and reviewed before important decisions are made about a disputed charge.

What Possible Defences or Legal Issues May Apply?

The defence depends on the exact offence, dog, Hunting Dog Licence, wildlife, WMU, season, location, activity, and available evidence.  Not every defence or legal issue applies to every hunting dog charge.

The Dog Had a Valid Hunting Dog Licence or Did Not Require One

The charge may be based on the belief that the dog was unlicensed when a valid licence had actually been issued.  A licence may also not have been required where the dog was being used only to track already wounded big game and all of the wounded-animal tracking requirements were satisfied.

The Dog Was Not Being Used in or Accompanying Your Hunt

There may be a factual dispute about whether the dog was actually being used by you or accompanying your hunting activity.  Ownership, control, handler information, GPS location, and the dog's activity may be relevant.

Dogs Were Permitted for That Hunt or Location

A prohibited-dog charge can depend on the precise species, WMU, date, season, and hunting equipment class.  For deer, an incorrect WMU, season, boundary, or firearm class may affect whether dogs were prohibited.  For moose, the specific prescribed-area prohibition applies to WMU 65.

The Dog Was Used Only to Track Wounded Big Game

The wounded-animal tracking exception may apply where the dog was used only to locate an already wounded bear, elk, deer or moose and the applicable leash and physical-control requirements were followed.

You Did Not Permit the Dog to Run at Large

A running at large charge can involve questions about ownership, responsibility, control, where the dog travelled, what happened when it moved away, electronic tracking information, and the steps being taken to control or recover it.

The Closed Season Dog Rules Were Followed

If your charge concerns closed season chasing or searching, the exact wildlife, time, location, licence, dog, firearm possession, and activity should be checked against the particular rule relied upon by the prosecution.

Due Diligence

Due diligence means taking all reasonable care in the circumstances to prevent the offence.  The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 recognizes due diligence as a defence where its legal requirements are established.

Depending on the charge, relevant evidence may include checking the Hunting Dog Licence, confirming the WMU and season, checking whether dogs were permitted, monitoring the dog with tracking equipment, checking boundaries, or taking reasonable steps to maintain control of the dog.

Honest and Reasonable Mistake of Fact

An honest and reasonable mistake of fact means honestly and reasonably believing facts that, if true, would make the conduct innocent.  Ontario law recognizes this defence where its legal requirements are established.

The issue might involve the identity or licence status of the dog, a WMU boundary, whether wildlife had already been wounded, or another factual circumstance.  A mistake about the facts is different from simply not knowing what the law requires.

Evidence or Statement Issues

Conservation Officer observations, dog tracking data, GPS information, licensing records, photographs, videos, maps, electronic records, witness accounts, and statements should be reviewed carefully.  Their accuracy, reliability, completeness, and context may affect whether the specific charge is proven.

What Happens Next?

Your ticket or summons should identify the next procedural step and any response deadline or court date.  Do not miss that deadline while obtaining legal advice, requesting disclosure, or deciding how to respond.

After disclosure is obtained, the exact charge can be compared with the Hunting Dog Licence, wildlife, WMU, season, location, tracking data, Conservation Officer observations, witness evidence, and any exception or defence supported by the circumstances.

The prosecutor may withdraw the charge, meaning the charge is no longer being pursued, or the matter may be resolved by a guilty plea or another agreement, or proceed to trial.  The appropriate response depends on the exact offence, evidence, legal issues, and possible consequences.

How Can DefendCharges.ca™ Help?

DefendCharges.ca™ can review the wording on your ticket, summons, seizure notice, or other documents and compare it with the wildlife, records, dog licence, location, season, tracking evidence, and activity involved.  This can help identify the exact charge, the legal requirements that apply, and the factual issues that may be important to your case.

If the matter proceeds through court, DefendCharges.ca™ can explain the court process, review the available evidence and legal issues, discuss possible penalties or other consequences, and help you understand your options for responding to the charge.

Have Questions About Hunting Charges?

Whether you have been charged with one hunting offence or several, understanding your legal options is important.  DefendCharges.ca™ can review your case, explain the charges you are facing, and help you understand your legal options and the best course of action.  Contact us today to discuss your situation.

Key Takeaways

• Ontario permits dogs to be used for some hunting, but the rules depend on the wildlife, Hunting Dog Licence, WMU, season, location, and activity involved;
• A Hunting Dog Licence is issued in respect of the dog and does not replace the hunter's own hunting licence or other required hunting authority;
• A licensed dog is not automatically permitted during every hunt or in every location;
• Ontario does not require hunting dogs to wear hunter orange or special clothing to identify them as hunting dogs;
• Deer dog restrictions can depend on both the WMU and the firearm class for the deer season;
• Dogs cannot be used for ordinary elk hunting and cannot be used for moose hunting in WMU 65;
• A dog may be used without a Hunting Dog Licence to search for already wounded bear, elk, deer or moose if all wounded-animal tracking requirements are met;
• Ontario separately regulates dogs running at large and the use of dogs to chase wildlife during a closed season;
• The set fine depends on the exact offence stated on your ticket;
• Dog licensing records, GPS tracking data, WMU and other boundaries, season information, and Conservation Officer observations may be important evidence; and
• The exact offence wording and disclosure should be reviewed before deciding how to respond to the charge.

Conclusion

Your Illegal Use of Dogs While Hunting charge should be reviewed using the exact offence wording, dog, Hunting Dog Licence, wildlife, Wildlife Management Unit, season, location, tracking information, and activity identified in the evidence.  The fact that Ontario permits dogs for some hunting does not mean a licensed dog can legally be used during every hunt.

Before paying the ticket or entering a plea, review the Hunting Dog Licence records, applicable season and location, dog tracking information, disclosure, Conservation Officer observations, and any wounded-animal tracking rule, authorization, exception, or defence that may apply.  Legal representation can help determine which hunting dog rule applies to the charge and whether the evidence proves it.